The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC and the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC is the longer of the two lenses at 124mm. The Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM with a length of 111mm, is 13mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC's 79mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM weighs 645g, 9% (65g) lighter than the Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC's weight of 710g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC and the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has the same Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF-S lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC is also available in the Nikon F (DX) mount.
Focal Range
Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 VC has a focal range of 18-400mm and
22.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28.8-640mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM has a focal range of 17-55mm and 3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27.2-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
